Posts Tagged ‘NYSE’

Eastman Kodak, Co. (EK) – Buzz Stock of the Day

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010

Eastman Kodak Company Common StEastman Kodak Co. (NYSE: EK), the 130-year-old camera maker, announced Tuesday Antoinette McCorvey will replace Frank S. Sklarsky as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President effective November 5, 2010.

Currently Director of Investor Relations, McCorvey was promoted to CFO following the resignation of Frank Sklarsky, who is moving to Tyco International (NYSE: TYC). News of Kodak’s internal restructuring boosted shares as much as $0.08, or 1.9%, from Monday’s closing price of $4.22. Before Monday, Kodak shares were unchanged this year.

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Eastman Kodak Co. has experienced decreasing sales over the last four years as the company transitions from traditional film business segments to focus on consumer and commercial printing. Sales have slipped from $14.3 billion in 2005 to $7.6 billion in 2009, with Bloomberg data analysis estimating sales will fall an additional 5 percent this fiscal year.

Additionally, Fitch Ratings announced on Tuesday that it had cut Eastman Kodak Co.’s rating outlook to negative from stable and affirmed its issuer default rating at B-. In a statement regarding the move, Fitch said, “The negative outlook reflects Kodak’s continued struggles to gain traction in its digital business segments as secular declines accelerate in the traditional film business.” About $1.6 billion in debt will be affected by the move.

Alcoa, Inc. (AA) – Buzz Stock of the Day

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

Alcoa, Inc. (NYSE: AA), the largest U.S. aluminum increased its outlook for global aluminum demand as markets appear to be strengthening, sending its shares up more than 3 percent in after-hours trading on Thursday.

Alcoa increased its 2010 global aluminum consumption forecast to 13 percent from 12 percent, and noted growing demand for the metal in the BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India, and China), among others.

Alcoa boasted third quarter profit of $61 million, or 6 cents per share, compared with $77 million or 8 cents per share in the same quarter last year, citing a drop in the price of aluminum and a weaker dollar. Revenue in the quarter rose 15 percent to $5.3 billion on higher volumes in aerospace and increased market share in the building and construction market.
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Analysts on average were expecting earnings of 5 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Analyst Charles Bradford of Affiliated Research Group in New York, told Reuters that the results were better than expected because of cost reductions. “But the metal’s price was pretty obvious. The fourth-quarter metals price ought to be a fair bit better,” he told the news agency.

“One thing that’s important to note, even though the aluminum price has gone up in the last weeks, you typically have lag time until it hits our bottom line, which is typically two weeks,” Alcoa CEO, Klaus Kleinfeld said in an interview with Maria Bartiromo. “We didn’t get much — actually almost nothing of that increase into the third quarter. You would see that coming through in the fourth quarter.”

Watch the full interview below:

Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ) Buzz Stock of the Day

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

Shares of wine and spirit purveyor, Constellation Brands Inc., (NYSE : STZ) jumped 61 cents, or 3.4 percent, to $18.37 after the company announced better-than-expected second quarter financial results. Although second-quarter net income fell 8.4 percent on lower wine, beer and spirits sales in fiscal Q2 profits, the Company exceeded Wall Street earnings per share predictions and met full-year goals.

For the three months ended Aug. 31, Constellation Brands posted earnings of $91.3 million, or 43 cents per share. In the same period last year, the Company earned $99.7 million, or 45 cents per share. Revenue fell 2 percent to $863 million from $876.8 million. Excluding $17 million in restructuring and other one-time items, the company earned 52 cents per share, beating Wall Street expected earnings estimate of 49 cents per share.

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Chief Executive Officer Rob Sands said in a statement, “While some uncertainty remains in global markets, we are focused on building a stronger business for the future,” said Sands. “We have demonstrated this during the second quarter by generating strong free cash flow, paying down debt and driving profitable organic growth.”

Constellation Brands, Inc, the world’s biggest winemaker by volume, draws more than 90 percent of its sales from moderately-priced wines. Among its 100-plus brands are Clos du Bois, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Blackstone and Ravenswood. Although the majority of sales derives from wine the Company also makes Sdveka vodka as well as operates a wholesale joint venture with Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo SA, importing beers like Corona and Negra Modelo from Mexico, Tsingtao from China and St. Pauli Girl from Germany.

Burger King Holdings, Inc. (BKC) Buzz Stock of the Day

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

Burger King WhopperBurger King Holdings, Inc. (BKC) shares surged 14.8% on high volume Wednesday morning on rumors that the 2nd largest hamburger chain in the world is in talks to be taken private by British equity firm 3G Capital Management LLC. The shares jumped as high as $19.19, the biggest surge in four years since the company’s IPO in May 2006.

Sources involved with the negotiations said the buyout discussions are advanced and a possible deal could be reached within a few days, although there is still a possibility that negotiations could collapse. A buyout of Burger King would mark the second time the company has been taken private in the past decade.
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Analysts suggest taking Burger King private would allow the company to focus on some major challenges such as healing strained relations with its franchisees, introducing a new breakfast menu in the U.S. and differentiating itself from McDonalds.

Burger King has been facing serious issues lately, share prices have fallen 13% since the start of 2010, with global sales down -2.3% for the 2010 fiscal year and North American sales declining to a greater extent. Despite recently exceeding expectations with $49 million 4th quarter profits, or 36 cents per share, bottom-line figures were decidedly lower than the previous years’ results. Although the company faces many challenges, attributes such as healthy cash flows and opportunities to grow productivity as it expands abroad are appealing to potential buyers.

Saks, Incorporated (NYSE: SKS) Buzz Stock of the Day

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

Sask Fifth AvenueShares of luxury goods provider Saks Incorporated (NYSE: SKS) skyrocketed Tuesday as acquisition rumors gained momentum, rallying as much as 34.00% at the open  to secure an intraday high of $8.85. Saks shares are currently hovering at $8.13 in afternoon trading, a 23.2 percent increase from yesterday’s close. Before Tuesday, Saks’s stock had risen less than 1% this year, outpacing the S&P Retail Index’s 3.5% decline.

Britain’s tabloid Daily Mail newspaper, which isn’t citing named sources, reports that a group of American and British private-equity houses have been reviewing Saks for months and are looking to make an offer for the company for $11 a share, or $1.7 billion. Saks spokeswoman Julia Bentley said the company doesn’t comment on rumors or speculation.
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There are numerous attributes that might make Saks attractive to potential buyers. The luxury-fashion retailer has seen its earnings improve recently because of cost-cutting and higher demand for high-end products. Luxury goods sales have held up relatively well throughout the downturn, partly because unemployment is significantly lower for people with white-collar jobs, at around 5%, compared with the national 9.5% rate.

Under Chief Executive Steve Sadove, Saks has narrowed its losses and improved its sales after demand faltered in the wake of the financial-sector meltdown in 2008 that led the company to offer sharp discounts.  To bolster company financials, Saks issued $120 million in May 2009 in convertible debt and in October completed a $100 million common stock offering to help it reduce borrowings on its revolving line.